LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES Of AMERICA. 



The Scholars 



POETICAL TALISiMAN 



HOWARD \V I N T O N C A R L W E L L 



lUL ij 1886' 



/?' 



CUSHINGS & BAILEY, 

BALTIMORE. 



75 /an 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, by 

H. W. Cathell, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 



DEDICA TION. 

T/ux little j)oem, written witli the Jiope that it may cheer some dis- 
r our aged one or awaken inpj aciimty wine unused talent, to tlie 
memory of our departed President James A. Garfield, upon reflection' 
on his great advancement in those paths requiring the firmest resolu- 
tion., the higliest avibition and the most indomitable will, is rexpectftilly 
dedie<(ted by 

THE AUTUOR. 

B(dtimore, June, iSS6. 



©HE SgHOLAI^S, 



Mark ye the course of the determined scholar. 
Of him who has his star of hope fixed high 
Toward the heavens, and looking unto it 
With longing eye resolves within himself 
And says: "I will." Of him who is not turned 
From that one path which leadeth to his goal, 
By all the myriad troubles of this life ; 
But seeing eaeii advancing in his way, 
With warlike spirit bravely moveth on 
And overpowers. 

Lowly, perchance, the starting point of him 
Who striveth thus. Far in the depths of 

want 
He may have nursed his hope with such fond 

care 



As that we see in some wild forest beast, 
Which will his young protect and shield from 

harm — 
Ay, even unto death. Low down fame's hill, 
Or in the valley darkened with despair. 
May he have fought his first, his glorious fight ; 
But that primeval victory was to him 
The founding stone of his immortal tower, 
His worthy fame. 

Slowly we see him rising to the top 
In manner like unto the morning sun, 
Who first dispels the darkness of the night, 
Then next sends forth his lengthy rays of fire, 
And, crowning all, appeareth his full form, 
Which fills the world replete with glorious 

light. 

Day after day he seeks of knowledge more, 
And scarcely finds a thing so humbly born 



But yields some useful lesson. Block by block 

Is builded to his tower as each new fact 

He gathers to his store with mighty zeal, 

Cementing each one firm in memory's wall 

With strongest resolution. 

A backward glance he turns upon his course ; 

Observes the things now overcome, and feels 

A mighty thankfulness within him rise 

To that Great One who has endowed him so, 

With such conception of his mortal life 

That ever brings from inmost depth the 

words : 
I'll conquer if I can. 

The fullest knowledge has he now of this — 
The height attained by constant work — and 

scans 
The distance stretching upward to his goal. 
With earnest calculation for success. 
Each onward step conveys him now a charm 



Exceeding far the one of previous place, 
And like the pages of some master book, 
Disclosing greater interest at each turn, 
He finds attractions gathered round his way, 
Increasing as he moves. 

With courage true, his close companion cheer, 
As springs within the sailor's loyal heart 
When nearing port — he works ; and the result ! 
Grand and majestic looks his tower of fame, 
Resplendent with the jewels of true worth 
And looming high unto that envied sphere 
Which none e'er reached but true great men, 
Whilst constantly degrees of height, made 

firm 
With base so sound, a broad, pure mind of 

depth 
Produced by only noble thoughts — he adds 
Unto its altitude sublime, till now 
The topmost point is fixed and made secure, 



And on that lofty peak appears the form 
Of him who framed and reared the noble 

mass, 
His intellect descending to below 
And lighting all with steady truthful rays. 

His star of hope is fully overwhelmed, 
And in its stead there blazons forth the one, 
Reality. He hath no longer need 
To crush his pride with shame, or feel the 

want 
Of friendly hand. His counsel now decides 
In many things of highest, greatest weight 
To all his kind. And his extended thought, 
Like keenest frost on coldest winter's night, 
Finds power great in places most remote. 

But does this tide of honor, now so great, 
Produce within the one to whom it swells 



A stoic heart ? Ah no ! his reason broad 
And nature true expel such things unjust 
From their fair sight. He asks not fooHsh moon 
To keep his tide at zenith height ; but turns 
With reverent feeling unto God, and finds 
Sufficient strength to keep it there himself. 

He gazes not unmoved upon the sight 
Of one who struggles hard for learning's prize, 
But has a sweet remembrance for the time 
When he was working on in depths unknown, 
And with a smile of benefaction kind 
He lends a helping hand. 
Thus having lived in happiness his years 
And filled the measure of his time below 
With glorious deeds, he is transcended now 
Unto that life, to drink for evermore 
From that great cup, of which no man shall 
taste 



Until his form is ushered in by death. 

And there, from those eternal heights, may he, 

With smile of satisfaction round his lips, 

Look down and read, inscribed upon his tomb,. 

An epitaph of honor to his name, 

Engraved with lasting depth upon the slab 

And deep alike within the hearts of those 

Remaining here. 

* * * Jj: 'jJ sH >IJ * -^ 

Look now inquiringly at one who starts 
Upon his way with prospects smiling bright 
His path illumined with the lustrous glow 
Of golden opportunities derived 
From wealth and ever watchful mother's care, 
Which carry from his mind all anxious thought 
And leave him light and free. 
A rapid progress meets his first attempt 
Which wholly fills the hopes of watchful 
friends, 



For such pure blood as Hows within his veins 

Doth furnish richest food unto his brain, 

And brinors a vigorous action to his mind 

That masters things with ease which others gain 

Alone by\weary toil. 

But notmg this pre-eminence of force 

Which elevates him o'er his fellow ones, 

He is inclined to set too great a price 

Upon the value of his worthy gifts, 

And think endowments signify success ; 

And thus depend upon his genius more, 

His own exertions less. He now employs 

Imaginary leisure to explore 

The Sea of Pleasure with its many Gulfs, 

Which cautiously he ploughs at first, grows 

bold, 
Enticed by varied snares of beauteous scenes. 
Until at last, atioat upon its waste, 
He feels the nausea form within his heart. 



But ah ! his head the acting hehiisman is 
Which takes his passions for the rudder's use; 
And thus they steer among the currents swift 
And numerous as the countless stars. And 

look! 
The track which they pursue to danger leads. 
One current to a dreadful fate fast flows 
And bears them on, environed in its grasp, 
Until they reach the awful spot, the pool 
That ever draws and whirls and holds too firm 
To extricate, and constitutes, indeed, 
A dread Charybdis of the modern time. 

Now bound within this web, he slowly yields 
And sacrifices time, which he should use 
In nobler ways, unto these pleasant things. 
So stronger in weak ways he ever grows 
Until a perfect votary he is 
To empty nothingness. Year after year 



He passes in this way ; each leaving less 
To mark its path than any yet before ; 
Until at last, unknown unto the world, 
He leaves all earth behind. 

And as some friend 
May chance to pass his final resting place 
He sadly looks upon the spot and says : 
"There lies a genius blio^hted and misused." 



Think now upon the great diversity 

Which showed itself between these two who 

worked 
Contemporarily within a field 
Which level was alike unto them both 
And interspersed with hills to each the same. 
But one was loth to exercise his strength 
In climbing hills, and therefore must needs 

walk 



In iowly spheres. W^hile he who felt unpressed 
With chity to his (jod ; and called his power 
To useful work ; and faltered not the more 
Because the hill a mountain almost seemed — 
Reaped richl\- in the harvest field of life. 

Turn now unto thyself with thoughts of these, 
With cognizance of application's worth; 
And ask thyself the question for a life : 
Will I. or will I not? 



